North Korea vows to arrest those responsible for failed ship launch
The 5,000-tonne-class warship was damaged when a transport cradle on the ship's stern detached early during a launch ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday, state media said.
Advertisement
Satellite imagery on the site showed the vessel lying on its side, with most of its hull submerged and draped in blue covers.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Friday that the severity of the damage was 'not serious' and could be repaired in about 10 days.
Kim Jong Un speaks during a launching ceremony of a new naval destroyer at a western port in Nampo, North Korea (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via A)
It said the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater had flowed into the stern section, though it denied an earlier assessment that the bottom of the hull had been left with holes.
The extremely secretive nature of North Korea makes it almost impossible to verify the assessment.
Advertisement
North Korea has a history of manipulating or covering up military-related setbacks, policy fiascoes and other mishaps, though it has periodically acknowledged some of such events in recent years.
Observers believe North Korea's admission of the failed launch was likely meant to show Mr Kim's resolve to advance his naval capabilities and boost discipline.
The North's Central Military Commission summoned Hong Kil Ho, manager of the Chongjin shipyard, as it began its investigation of the failed launch, KCNA reported.
'No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime,' the commission said, according to KCNA.
Advertisement
Mr Kim, who was present at the failed launch, had blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators and ordered that the warship be repaired before a high-level ruling Workers' Party meeting in late June.
The damaged ship is assessed as the same class as North Korea's first destroyer, unveiled last month with great fanfare and said to be capable of carrying various weapons, including nuclear missiles.
Analysts say it is the North's biggest and most advanced warship to date and was likely built with Russian assistance.
The North Korea-focused 38 North website had assessed last week that North Korea was preparing to launch the destroyer in Chongjin with a method it has rarely used.
Advertisement
The report said the ship was being prepared to be launched sideways from the quay, while the previous destroyer launched at the western shipyard of Nampo used a floating dry dock.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
South Korea begins removing loudspeakers on border with North to reduce tensions
South Korean authorities have begun removing loudspeakers that blare propaganda broadcasts along its border with the North, Seoul's defence ministry said on Monday, as the new government of President Lee Jae Myung seeks to ease tensions with Pyongyang. South Korea's dismantling of the loudspeakers was a 'practical measure that can help ease inter-Korean tensions without affecting the military's readiness posture,' the ministry said in a statement. Lee Kyung-ho, a spokesperson for the ministry, didn't share specific details on whether the speakers could be quickly redeployed to the border if tensions flared again. There were no discussions between the two militaries ahead of the decision, Lee said during a briefing. North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong-un, didn't immediately comment. Shortly after Lee took office in June, his administration switched off propaganda broadcasts criticising the North Korean regime as it looked to revive stalled dialogue with its neighbour. Pyongyang – which had reacted furiously to the hardline policies of Lee's conservative predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol – has rebuffed recent overtures and said it had no interest in talking to South Korea. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, said last week that Seoul's 'blind trust' in its alliance with the US and its hostility toward North Korea made it no different from Yoon's administration. Her comments implied that North Korea – now preoccupied with its expanding cooperation with Russia over the war in Ukraine – feels no urgency to resume diplomacy with Seoul and Washington. Seoul resumed loudspeaker broadcasts in June 2024 after Pyongyang sent nearly a thousand rubbish-filled balloons across the border in the space of a few weeks. The broadcasts would 'deliver messages of light and hope to the North Korean military and citizens', the South said at the time. South Korea's broadcasts were blasted from multiple speakers stacked in large racks and included world news and information about democratic and capitalist society with a mix of K-pop music. The sound is believed to travel more than 20km (12.4 miles) into North Korea. The cold war-style psychological warfare campaign further heightened tensions already inflamed by North Korea's advancing nuclear program and South Korean efforts to expand joint military exercises with the US and trilateral security cooperation with Japan. The countries remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean war ended only in a truce, and relations have deteriorated in the last few years. With Reuters and Associated Press
ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Jersey's government reveals 25-year investment plan to fight culture of 'short-termism'
Jersey 's government has revealed plans to set aside around £80 million a year to invest in capital infrastructure. Ministers want to set up a dedicated fund, ringfencing money for planned projects over the next 25 years. They include building thousands more homes, a new college in the centre of St Helier, improved road and water infrastructure and upgraded sports facilities. If approved, the money would be siphoned off from next year and given legal protection against being spent elsewhere. Jersey's Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, adds: "Sometimes ministers have taken money from the capital expenditure where it is not immediately noticed. Doing that for years has led to a situation where some of our infrastructure is starting to show its age. "There's been no coordinated approach, there's not been one consolidated plan that looks right across the public sector to make sure we have a structured, properly-funded capital plan. "We also need to create a platform to rebuild hope and confidence." Highlands College would be refurbished and relocated under the plans, with an accessible, purpose-built campus for Further and Higher Education. Principal Jo Terry-Marchant says: "It's really important for Jersey. More modern, fit-for-purpose facilities will allow us to widen access and opportunity to all age groups. "What is refreshing about this is that they are looking at the interconnected nature of different priorities across the island ... We have needed this for probably more than a decade." Paul Wylie, Chief Officer of the Cabinet Office, adds: "We know Highlands College campus needs renovating, so we're exploring putting it in the town centre. "That brings young people into the town centre and it frees up amazing sites at the top of the hill for family housing." The public is not expected to pay for the projects with extra taxes. Instead, from next year, the Government's annual capital allocation - approximately £80 million - will be ringfenced in the new Jersey Capital Investment Fund. Where needed, money may also be reallocated from other areas or borrowed to support major infrastructure projects. Mr Wylie also believes a change of approach is needed for the island's housing. He explains: "Our partners in Andium Homes and States of Jersey Development Company will be prioritising family-size homes of three or four bedrooms, as opposed to flats as in the past." However, backbench politicians are already questioning whether the Government will have enough funds to pay for everything that is planned. Deputy Max Andrews says: "The money has to come from somewhere ... I can understand the reason behind the decision to bring forward this new fund, but with the number of properties the Government owns, we're talking about hundreds of millions of pounds of investment. "If we were spending our money more wisely, we wouldn't be in this position in the first place." Business leaders are also asking for more clarity on the plans for investment. Jersey's Chamber of Commerce President, Lee Madden, explains: "Ambition must be matched by delivery. Our members are asking the same questions the public will be: how will this be paid for, and will it be delivered on time?" Meanwhile, Jersey's Hospitality Association have thrown their support behind the plan, stating: "This is a long-overdue step in recognising that sustainable economic growth, particularly in the visitor economy, cannot happen without Government first delivering the essential infrastructure that enables it. "But words on a page are not delivery. While we strongly support this document's content and its direction, the success of this vision will depend entirely on competent, accountable leadership." The States will vote on whether to greenlight the Government's proposals later this year.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Trump: will 'substantially' raise tariffs on goods from India over Russian oil purchases
WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will substantially raise tariffs on goods from India over its purchases of Russian oil. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA." He did not elaborate on what the tariff would be. India's trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump last week said he would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India and added that the world's fifth-largest economy would also face an unspecified penalty but gave no details. Over the weekend, two Indian government sources told Reuters that India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump's threats. The sources did not wish to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
